Edit: Revised. Most of the changes are regarding the correction of grammar mistakes, dialogue tags, etc.
Chapter I
Zane Truesdale
Zane Truesdale. The name is stamped in all forms of media. Pictures of the dark-cloaked duelist printed and published on the internet and papers circulating through the entire Empire. His sharp eyes throw daggers at the reports every time they decide to point their cameras at his face, and they love it.
There are bad rumors regarding him. He used to be a good duelist and prodigious summoner up until the point he lost to a famous genius summoner right after graduating from the prestigious duel academy and "awoke an edgy side of his", as some magazines describe.
People believed he made connections with the underground and became a big figure there, his reputation is feared among some other duelists and summoners. His style became even more destructive and powerful, some blame the influence of the war in the south for his sudden personality change.
Plenty gossip magazines theorize why he fell from his former glory and often make comparisons of him to other duelists. They accuse him of having executed evil rituals and contracts with duel spirits in exchange for power, some even went as far as calling him a "vampire" and say his young, handsome appearance was due to such contracts, although vampires were believed to be extinct eons ago.
He didn't have this charm and mature air before his change at all, he was a normal teenager, but after a single duel, something cracked open in him. He vanished from all gazes for months until he ascended again as a summoner, clothed in jet-black garments and with an unseen strength employed in his summons.
Today, Zane enters the suspicious-looking building under the veil of the night. An equally suspicious-looking man awaits him there. He's a tad shorter than the duelist, even more so after he takes off his hat to greet, a devious smirk playing on his lips.
"We wouldn't be able to have a good night without our King. Everyone is excited to see your summons today, Mr. Truesdale," he snickers. "By the way, I heard you were there when the explosion in the stadium happened, are you still up for the fight?"
"Why not?"
"Do you have your gems with you?"
To that, Zane simply answers by lifting the thin cord tied to a turquoise-blue gem that glimmers even without light.
"Oh, it's already charged, I see. Are you sure it'll last long enough? Those summons can take a toll on your body, even with a gem."
"What is your point, Shroud? You keep beating around the bush."
"I have some connections."
A cynical smirk tugs on his lips, he likes this directness of Zane. The man means business and never refuses to negotiate with someone like that.
"As you know, the big problem with gems is that they're a resource that must be mined and lapidated by a blacksmith to be used for summoning, this costs a lot and it makes them a valuable resource. They're the only way to summon without wasting too much energy, because the gems will transform even the tiniest bit of power into an immense amount of energy and energy can also be stored in them in advance…"
"Skip the history class. Your point, Shroud," He asserts impatiently as they walk down the corridor.
"Have you heard of other types of catalysts?"
Zane steps finally halt, he casts an eerie, disdainful side glance at the manager who sniggers at him like an imp whispering lies into his ears.
"You mean the human catalysts?" his eyes narrow slightly in caution, the shrewd snake is up to something again.
"Oh, so you do know," he chuckles in delight. "Exactly. I could find one for-"
He cuts off the talk, walking ahead. "I'm not interested."
"Wait!" he catches up to the other. "I've heard you barely survived while keeping your Cyber Dragon during the explosion… I bet you had to use your gem, but it'll end up breaking if you demand too much… Compared to a human catalyst, it's a bad characteristic. Catalysts have gems encrusted into their bodies and they nurture the gem with their own energy, all you need to do is use them like you use a gem, you can extract as much power as you want without consequences for yourself."
"Oh, yeah, I know about the Imperials and their sick experiments on humans. They wanted an infinite power source, but obviously such a thing does not exist, so they made up for it by creating human catalysts. They took a bunch of innocent children and women that weren't useful in war in the south and shoved gems inside their bodies, tossed them out on the battlefields with no regard for their lives. They had their energy extracted like they're batteries while Imperial summoners raised armies of monsters. Many of the catalysts died to 'bring glory to the Empire' on top of that, when the war ended, they completely erased this ugly truth from the records of all history books, sending those souls into oblivion just to look good for people when those people they sacrificed were also ones they should be protecting. Like I said: I'm. Not. Interested," he says the last part between his teeth.
"I see you disagree with their methods, but do you know the results of their strategy?" He ignores the warning glare of the duelist and proceeds. "Thanks to that, Imperials won the last war against Satellite. While morally dubious, and of course it was cut off the Imperial records, here in the underground, no one will care if you have a human catalyst or two, in fact, people would be excited to see it, a relic of war. A catalyst takes off the burden of the summoner, and though their bodies will perish if you extract too much energy at once or repeatedly use them without maintenance, it's an honorable sacrifice. Zane, perhaps you could have saved more people if you had one back then in the war-"
"You-"
He can't hold back anymore, yanking the collar of the manager, slamming him against the wall with a loud thud, his face wrinkling aplenty, grinding his teeth while replying, his tone is so angered his breath comes out heavy as he speaks:
"Listen, I'm not interested in whichever tricks you're trying to pull to sell me things! I'm not interested in human traffic or in those sordid games you like to play for your audience of the underground. Don't try me, Shroud. I have killed people for less than this and you should know that well."
"Ease… There," he tries to say, almost being choked between words, Zane releases the grip, he coughs before resuming. "It was just a suggestion… I'm worried about you too, moreover I know you wouldn't kill a human catalyst, even if you had one… It would be like having a walking gem that can assist and communicate with you, you'd give them a job better at what they have in the empire…"
"One more word and you're fired."
He points his index at the man in a sour tone, a dry gulp is heard as he turns around, walking towards the underground arena in a bleak mood.
Interlude I - Excerpt from the General History and Geography Compendium
Summoners. Through history, they have been called many titles: servants of the gods, magicians, casters, conjurers, shadow duelists, shamans, mediums, however today they are mostly referred to as summoners.
Since ancient times, they've been known as beings - human or not - capable of channeling their own energy to bring into life a miracle of materializing duel monsters. Studies say only one among thousands of people have the capability of becoming summoners, but not all of them awaken their abilities.
The awakening of a summoner can happen at any time of their lives, while it's rare to happen at a very young age, there are registered cases proving it's possible. The power of a summoner is called "duel energy". In layman terms, it's their own vital energy, the source of power they use to muster a summon of a creature known as duel monster - that inhabits in its physical form - in another dimension.
They can also summon traps and spells, but only very specialized and experienced summoners are able to combine those tactics, due to spells and traps bending our own dimension, whereas monsters are simply being called forth to our plan of existence.
Not much is known about other dimensions, quantum physics did not decipher the mysteries behind summoning and bending plans of existence. Part of it is due to a great catastrophe that erased records from the ancient times known as "The Purging Fire". A fire of uncharted origin that destroyed most of the records of a millennia stored in the monumental library of Atlantis.
Only after many decades were scientists able to find out more about the lost millennia, but to this day, many facts remain hidden and lost. Gems are one of the objects that were studied thoroughly for the last centuries and have proven to hold a deep connection to summoners and their powers.
It is known that ancient summoners had powerful gems that aided in their battles. A gem is a resource that can be easily mined on the west and south. They're crystals and precious stones that can be used for storing, amplifying power, or both. Nowadays, they are accessible to most summoners and widely used, specially for those who take summoning for their main job.
While gems are a great resource, they can run out of energy, break if overused or if the summoner demands too much power intake from it, thus morally dubious researches were practiced ever since this failure was noted by scientists.
During the battles in the south, a dark truth came to light: Humans have been used as subjects for researching use of gems and alternate sources of power for summoners in excruciating and deadly experiments.
Dozens of laboratories of the Empire had been re-purposed to conduct those experiments, which led many to believe the Empire is behind a part of the atrocities committed in the war. The Summoning Research Scientific Committee denies all allegations of involvement and ensures people that no such immoralities were committed by them, blaming it on supposed rebel groups and outcast scientists maddened by the war.
In this paper we conclude that ever since summoners exist, they have become a core part of society. They act as protectors, assassins, servants and many times, establish order in chaos. However, many summoners also become lost in their powers and ensue chaos with their skills, thus, special laws were created.
Those who wish to be summoners need to take an exam held by the Duel Academy itself, if approved, they may receive a diploma stating their skills and rank. The rank can always be changed by retaking a ranking exam that is held annually at the capital of Domino. Among all summoners, only a few selected have the Ultra Rare rank, the highest stated so far in records. Summoners integrated a small, but important part of our society and they may be required for many Imperial jobs.
Although summoners are admired, there's a stigma regarding the profession due to increasing cases of summoners using their powers for crimes and allying with insurgent terrorists groups that cause panic. The general public is often divided in their opinions, causing conflicted visions on whether summoners should have less influence in the general affairs of the world or not, going as far as banishing them from political seats and influential positions.
Some autonomous regions of the Rumir continent already instituted laws that prohibit all forms of summoning, even for entertainment purposes. As the tensions continue, the future of summoners is undefined. We shed light to the question in hopes to bring people's attention to the matter and to remember summoners have been helpers of humanity in many stances now and in the past.
Chapter based on the research originated in the International University of Domino from:
Professor of Archeology and History at the IUD, Lyman Banner;
PHD in Quantum Physics and Dimensional Theories and Professor at the IUD, Doctor Eisenstein Zweiter;
Master in Quantum Physics at the IUD, Bastion Misawa.
Imperial Island Sorna, year 2055 of the Dominian calendar,
The Duel Academy, an institution certified by the Empire to educate duelists and summoners, constructed on an island donated by the Empire itself in the year 2035 of the Dominian Calendar, built with the sponsorship of Kaiba corporation that gathered all necessary personnel and materials.
The place is renowned for its great record of graduated students that become servants of the Empire, summoners included. The current director, the second post the academy's creation, used to be a great summoner himself, but his legacy was passed down to one of the students he had, after which he retired from his previous occupation as a summoner and accepted the seat of school chancellor, so says the legend.
Inside the main building of the academy, the large glass panel windows let sunlight through, the blonde lady waltz past the beams of light shining on her beautiful and curvy figure, she carries a clipboard stuffed with papers wrapped on one of her arms. Her steps halt upon spotting a dark figure, contrasting with the light shades of the building.
He leans against the wall, his aloof green eyes landing on her in return, a tiny curve moving his lips up.
"Zane," she smiles warmly. "You're here early."
"I didn't expect you'd become a teacher of all things."
He delivers a brief greeting hug before stretching one of his hands onwards on the corridor, as if to guide her for a walk, she nods gracefully in a short bow and accepts it, walking alongside him.
"I'm still on the probationary stage, my supervisor is Crowler," she chuckles.
"Him? He might be exhilarated to have one of the best students come back to become a teacher. Your profession is not exactly the most popular choice for summoners."
"Someone has to teach the kids how to summon properly and what it means. You had a master too."
"Yeah, I did. But some people are just talented. I don't know. The idea we're training students for the Empire just irks me."
"We're not training them for the Empire, this is just what most people want in life. I see the time in the underground accentuated your rebellious tendencies."
"Not much. Most come out of the electrotherapy insane, or dead."
She stops, letting out a deep sigh, her eyes wavering slightly, he stops too. Bad joke, then clearing his throat he continues with a guilty curl on his brows:
"I'm not insane yet. I'm just fulfilling our promise, you all keep your eyes on the surface, and I'll keep my eyes on the underground. That was the agreement, remember?"
"You don't need to be there forever."
"But it's there where we can find many contacts and information, valuable sources that we won't find on the surface. You don't need to worry about me. Someone has to dirty their hands to cover all sides."
"It doesn't have to be you at all times. We told you that before."
"It was after I was defeated by your boyfriend that I noticed I was powerless and I needed to resort to more extreme measures, he taught me something important there. I think of the underground as a job, you don't have to like it, just do it. You make one mistake there, and your head might roll. Very exciting."
"First, I don't have a boyfriend. And what you described doesn't sound exciting, just dangerous."
"You dated Aster."
"It was once and I was just going out with a friend, nothing else, okay?"
"I know him, he wouldn't date a girl he's not interested in. You should give him a chance," his eyes open suggestively.
"Why don't you give him a chance if you like him so much?" she snarls annoyedly.
"I don't swing to that side."
"I will tease you so much when you get a girlfriend, Zane Truesdale."
"Not happening. I'm a busy man and I doubt I'll find one worthy in the underground," he receives a killing glare from her, time to end the topic. "I know you didn't become a teacher just for fun, we're all doing our best to change the Empire, aren't we, Lexi? The more people you know, the more contacts you have and the more your intel net spreads."
"I'm not here only for that. I do like to teach the kids. I don't know, there's this hope in their eyes, it just melts me."
"Why did you call me here? I would think a servant of the academy like you would not want attention with one of the most infamous summoners with a bad reputation like me."
"You're here as my friend, though we do have business to talk about."
She smiles amicably, petting his forearm caringly, his eyes squint slightly, he can tell she's worried about something underneath that smile, they've known each other for years.
If there was something he cherishes, it's his memories at the duel academy and the friends he made here. Both good and bad ones. The bond they built is one he'll take for the rest of his life and also one that motivated him to stand up against the Empire.
The tale behind his enrollment in the duel academy is not the happiest. His grandfather, Byron Truesdale the famous leader of the Truesdale family had many connections to the Empire due to the economical power he holds, receiving nominations as a counsellor of the economical bureau. When he found out one of his grandkids could summon, he immediately started tutoring him with specialists, this was right after Zane and Syrus lost their parents to a tragic incident, they were eight and six respectively.
A bunch of summoner terrorists attacked the train the respected Ms. and Mr. Truesdale were in. They were to visit their kids after many months abroad excavating ancient ruins. Their grandfather became their legal guardian after the incident, and from there on it was all about Zane succeeding the family and continuing business while his brother was cast aside as some family pariah who had no talent, thanks to that Syrus had an inferiority complex for a long time.
Byron saw an opportunity to be even closer to the Empire in Zane. If he were to become one of the proud and glorious Imperial summoners, the family would grow stronger and who knows, he could set his grandkid with one of the imperial princesses. That's why, as soon as he was ten, Zane was sent to the boarding school, the duel academy. He couldn't see his brother for at least two years, until the day Syrus himself somehow got enrolled into the school on the lowest rank possible, surprisingly enough, a kid called Jaden got even lower grades than Syrus in the entrance exam.
Zane, however, had different plans than what his grandfather had in mind and despite graduating and receiving the legacy of his master as a Cyber Summoner, he displayed no interest in joining the Empire. A rebel by nature. "It's a pity" is what some say and "Hindrance" is the favorite word his grandfather uses to call him those days. He got past the phase where he cared about his grandfather's approval, though. Long ago.
"Is it about Atticus?"
He finally asks. This name had such an effect on her, those hazel eyes flickering in sadness, her head lowering slightly.
"Not quite. It's about the terrorist group that attacked before, the one that hurt you."
"You heard about it?"
"It's on the news. And Sy told me to keep an eye on you so you don't overdo yourself."
"The brat," he shakes off his head for being snitched on.
"He's worried about you. And so am I. But we have work to do."
"And which work do you have for me this time?"
"People say that terrorist group, the Shadow Riders are recruiting more members. I don't know if they work like a sect or whatnot, but there are some shady rumors they're aiming for the underground."
"I see. Usually people who go underground are either desperate, depressed, indebted for a lifetime or lacking the spark of life in normal duels… In other words, people with little options. Perfect targets for a bunch of outlaws, easy to convince."
"Exactly. But that's not all. The people they want to recruit… They'll offer power, money, many things… If they get summoners like you, it'll be very bad… And even if they don't find worthy summoners, their promise is that they'll give people power to become a dark-summoner."
"A dark-summoner, huh? Even in the underground, it's been a while since I last heard the term."
"You need to be careful. If they're recruiting, they might approach you. And if they do, you know what to do," she stops, facing him with a determined glint in her eyes. "What you do best."
"I'll beat the crap out of them with my Cyber Dragons."
"And Zane, one last thing…"
"Yes?"
"If anything happens. Anything. Contact us. We may have taken separate paths after everything that happened in our last years in the academy, but Syrus, I, Jaden, Bastion, Chazz and even Aster… Unlike five years ago, we're all here to help this time, Zane. We love you, so don't do anything reckless, please."
"I won't. I love you guys too."
His sharp eyes had this tenderness in them, as if his mood had just improved from zero to hundred after hearing that. It made his day.
That same day,
Underground Pit, night time
Slightly after the conversation with Shroud, Zane prepares for his duels. For the last couple years, he has clawed his way into this obnoxious burrow and claimed the crown of king of the underground from the previous dark ruler of the place. As a king his obligation is to entertain the servants by destroying all the contesters, showing he's worth keeping the title earned.
A sadistic entertainment. He took time to get used to the job, but no one can tell anymore whether he's pretending to like those gruesome duels or if he truly delights himself in the thrill. Some men in black set the electrodes on his arms, writs, neck, thighs and ankles. They bear no emotion in their faces, simply executing a task.
Zane steps into the dark room, all the lights focus on him, the spectators admire him under their masks, their voices chanting his name "Hell Kaiser". Fake smiles. What they really enjoyed was his suffering, his semblance as he drowns into pain. He doesn't care for that pain anymore. Has that made him stronger or just a step closer to madness? He can't tell.
A smirk blossoms on his lips, a cruel, wicked one as he dresses fully into his persona for the stage. Entering the cage is his opponent, a dastard who trembles at his sight.
"Now, don't be afraid. Let's have fun in this duel…"
His muffled laughter echoes, swallowed by the impatient and nefarious whispers of the observers, his manager watches from the sidelines. It's about to begin. The biggest revolution in history and the legend of the Cyber Summoner, his friends and his most precious gem.